Tag: transformation

South Africa’s financial markets are entering a new era. The Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate (JIBAR), long the anchor of domestic funding and lending, will soon be replaced by the South African Rand Overnight Index Average (ZARONIA). This transition is reshaping how interest rates are priced.

On 6 August 2025, the cabinet approved the National Water Amendment Act to be tabled at Parliament. This will mark the third amendment to the National Water Act, 1998. The first amendment was in 1999, and the second in 2014. Across South Africa, the government is keenly aware of the issues facing the water sector and is taking decisive action.

South Africa’s Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA) came into effect on 1 September 2025. This followed the Gauteng High Court’s dismissal of an urgent application to halt its implementation. The government aims to enforce sectoral targets on race and gender representation to accelerate transformation. However, beneath the policy rhetoric lies a complex reality that many employers, particularly in manufacturing, will struggle to manage.

In South Africa, we sit with a paradox that should concern every business leader. On one hand, unemployment remains stubbornly high, particularly among young people. On the other hand, organisations are grappling with a deepening skills crisis.

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) used to be the rock star of the boardroom. The role determined how a company presented itself to the market. It also carried the authority of being the customer’s voice in an executive team dominated by finance and operations. The death of the CMO is now a growing concern.

Should graduates be worried about Artificial Intelligence (AI)? AI is changing what it means to step into the job market. At the same time, it is opening doors for those ready to learn. Graduation is a moment of arrival. It represents the first exciting step into adulthood, independence and the beginning of a career.

It is no secret that South African small businesses demonstrate remarkable resilience and optimism despite ongoing challenges. At the forefront of this resilience is digitisation. It is proving to be a vital catalyst for continued growth. In fact, digitisation delivers better business outcomes every day.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, its impact is being experienced in every sphere of our daily lives. From informing our choices on financial services, to guiding manufacturing processes, to helping us write that carefully worded email, its influence and reach cannot be overstated.

For many companies, transformation requirements such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), compliance still feel like an administrative burden. However, the Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative challenges that perception. It goes beyond compliance by offering a practical and cost-efficient tool for business growth and flexibility.

Africa's agricultural future requires bold climate-mitigation practices across the value chain. This vision is best realised with the strategic backing of strong financial partners who are committed to supporting Africa's agricultural transformation.